Golf
Leo Spall, UK Correspondent 8y

Europe's Ryder Cup team to keep EU flag despite Brexit

Europe's Ryder Cup team will face America at Hazeltine in September with the EU flag emblazoned on their kit.

That means British players such as Danny Willett, Justin Rose and Chris Wood, if they are confirmed as members, will appear to be associated with the European Union, as will captain Darren Clarke and vice captains Ian Poulter and Paul Lawrie.

Others players in contention for the team, such as Lee Westwood and Andy Sullivan, are also from the UK. 

The European Tour has been unmoved by the referendum vote in favour of Britain exiting the European Union and the team's branding and identity will remain unchanged.

A Tour spokesman said: "In terms of the flag flown to represent the European Ryder Cup team, we consider that the blue and gold flag of Europe represents the continent of Europe and, as a broad symbol of Europe as a whole, we therefore plan to continue to use it."

The Tour has confirmed that it plans to have the EU's ring of stars on a blue background as a key part of the badge on team kit as it has before. With the details of how Brexit will work still to become clear, the Tour doesn't see the need for any other immediate changes.

However, its days being based at Wentworth in Surrey may be numbered. "Like all global companies whose main headquarters are in the UK, we are now in the process of assessing the implications for our business following the result of the referendum vote on June 23," the spokesman said.

"In terms of tournaments appearing on the European Tour international schedule, including those in the UK, we do not believe that the result will have any impact.

"The UK remains a geographical part of Europe, even though it will no longer be part of the political or economic structure of the European Union.

"The criteria for being European in Ryder Cup terms is a geographical one -- from countries who make up the continent of Europe -- not a political or economic one (countries who make up the EU). Therefore the result of the UK referendum has no bearing in Ryder Cup qualification terms."

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